The Ruins – Volney – 1792 | First English Edition of Enlightenment Philosophy

Constantin-François Volney, an 18th-century French philosopher, wrote his most famous book, The Ruins, which deals with various aspects of the human mind and will. Volney writes of the human search for truth, the origins of religious ideas, the power of nature, occult and pagan worship, allegory in Christianity, mysticism, and many other ancient philosophical and natural laws. Volney demonstrates the correlation between philosophy, religion, and the downfall of world empires.

This 1792 edition features folding engravings of the world as well a map of the celestial sky with constellations.

This book is interesting in that President Thomas Jefferson later helped Volney adapt an edition of The Ruins.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Ruins: or Survey of the Revolutions of Empires
• Author(s): Constantin-François Volney
• Illustrator(s):
• Contributor(s):
• Publisher: London: Printed for J. Johnson
• Edition: First English Edition, 1792
• Format: Octavo (8vo), single volume
• Binding: Leather spine with marbled boards
• Size:  8.5 in x 5.25 in (21.6 cm x 13.3 cm)
• Collation: [xv], 400p
• Illustrations: one folding engraved plate
• Contents Include:
  • Philosophical meditations on religion and moral law
  • Comparative analysis of ancient empires and belief systems
  • Discussion of natural law and the cyclical decline of civilizations
• Provenance:
  • Signature of Thomas P. Meades.
  • Stamp of James D. Rudolf.
• Reference(s): references

Condition:

Very Good. Binding tight and secure, showing professional reinforcement of the original leather spine and corners. Boards retain marbled paper of the period with mild surface wear. Text block clean and complete with expected age toning. Folding plate intact and well-preserved, with light edge toning.

Why Collect This?

• First English edition of a work with a connection to Thomas Jefferson
• Foundational text of Enlightenment philosophy influencing early American political thought
• Includes original folding celestial plate rarely preserved

Item Number: # 29503